Getting the victory was particularly important for the Lakers,
who will face four playoff-contending squads over the next week
and a half. Beginning on Friday, the team travels to play New
Orleans, Houston, Dallas and Utah.

"Of course, it's going to be tough," Odom said of the upcoming
road trip. "(We're playing) some great teams with some great
records. It's really tough in the West right now, but hopefully
we can get them."

But Lakers coach Phil Jackson warned that his team's play needs
to improve if it plans to have a successful trip.

"I told them, basically, we aren't going to beat any of those
teams if we play like we have played the last two or three
games," Jackson said.

Los Angeles (45-19) owns the best record in the Western
Conference after picking up a half-game lead on the idle San
Antonio Spurs.

Early in the fourth, the Lakers took their first double-digit
lead as Jordan Farmar hit two long jumpers to make it 87-77 - a
cushion that the Raptors could not overcome.

"I think we did a better job (defensively)," Gasol said. "I
think we can get better and improve, but I think we did a better
job collectively helping each other out and compacting."

Gasol, who had been relatively quiet for much of the game, put
the Lakers ahead, 110-102, after Rasho Nesterovic had trimmed
the lead to six following back-to-back baskets with 1:35
remaining.

The game was sealed when Derek Fisher hit a 3-pointer from the
corner with less than a minute left to push the lead back to
double figures.

The Lakers finished the game hitting 15-of-31 shots from beyond
the arc, setting season highs in both categories.

"At home, you kind of have a little more leeway to take those
shots," Bryant said. "On the road, particularly if they are not
falling, you use a little bit more discretion."

The Raptors played without sixth straight game without All-Star
forward Chris Bosh, their leading scorer and rebounder, because
of a sore right knee. T.J. Ford picked up some of the slack
with 28 points - including 14 in the fourth.

Toronto is just 2-4 without Bosh in the lineup since he left the
court early in the first quarter of a February 29 loss to the
Indiana Pacers.

"With (Bosh) out, you got a couple of guys that need to step up
and be aggressive and try to manufacture points and get some
offense," said Raptors guard Anthony Parker, who finished with
21 points. "Because it's a huge vacuum Chris leaves on the
offensive end (when he's playing)."